Japan's bare detention center holds many without convictions

With its bare cells, the Tokyo Detention House looks much like a high-security prison, but most of those who get incarcerated here, including former Nissan Chairman Carlos Ghosn, have not been convicted of any crime.

Japan's system of refusing bail while suspects await trial, often for months, has drawn international criticism as "hostage justice."

Foreign media got a rare tour of the austere, drab but orderly facility on Monday, but only of floors without inmates.

A solitary cell is opened to the media during a press tour of he Tokyo Detention House in Tokyo, Monday, June 10, 2019. Foreign media got a rare tour of the austere, drab but orderly facility Monday, although only of the floors without inmates, and photography was restricted. Each solitary cell has only a toilet, folded bedding, a shelf and a sink.(AP PhotoKoji Sasahara)

Each solitary cell has only a toilet, folded bedding, a shelf and a sink. A window looks out into a bit of sky. Simple meals of rice and soup with a tiny portion of meat or fish are served from a sliding window.

Ghosn, who spent 130 days at the facility over two separate detention periods, says he is innocent of financial misconduct allegations.

He is out on bail, but 1,216 of the 1,758 current inmates have not been convicted and are awaiting trial.

A plate of breakfast for an inmate is displayed during a press tour of the Tokyo Detention House in Tokyo, Monday, June 10, 2019. With its bare cells, the Tokyo Detention House looks much like a high-security prison, but those who get incarcerated here, including former Nissan Chairman Carlos Ghosn, have not been convicted of any crime.(AP PhotoKoji Sasahara)

The solitary cells measure 7.5 square meters (81 square feet). Monday's tour also included a small concrete exercise area, covered with fencing, where inmates can go just 30 minutes a day.

There is also a small store where visitors and inmates can buy snacks like canned fruit and cookies.

Many nations have harsh detention conditions. In Thailand, for example, suspects can be held in chains as they await trial. Detentions can become long in the U.S., especially for people suspected of serious crimes such as terrorism. But generally, a person is presumed innocent, has the right to have an attorney present and is freed within 72 hours if there is no charge.

Exercise yard for inmates is opened to the media during a press tour of the Tokyo Detention House in Tokyo, Monday, June 10, 2019. Foreign media got a rare tour of the austere, drab but orderly facility Monday, although only of the floors without inmates, and photography was restricted.(AP PhotoKoji Sasahara)

Suspects in Japan are routinely questioned by prosecutors without a lawyer present and can be held up to 23 days per possible charge without possibility of bail. Prosecutors can add charges to prolong the detention.

The interrogation rooms, where prosecutors grill the suspects, were not shown during Monday's tour.

There are no TV sets. Inmates listen to the daytime radio news in the evening. Bathing is allowed three times a week in the summer, and twice in the winter. Daily schedules are regimented, starting at 7 a.m., followed by roll call. Bed time is 9 p.m.

A solitary cell for inmate is opened to the media during a press tour in Tokyo, Monday, June 10, 2019. With its bare cells, the Tokyo Detention House looks much like a high-security prison, but those who get incarcerated here, including former Nissan Chairman Carlos Ghosn, have not been convicted of any crime.(AP PhotoKoji Sasahara)

Warden Shigeru Takenaka acknowledged there was room for improvement, but stressed public opinion would not allow a fancy lifestyle.

The extensive measures to prevent suicides were telling.

All corners in the cells, such as shelves, are rounded, faucets in sinks turn on and off with a button, and hooks slide off easily so no rope can be hung.

A group cell for inmates is opened to the media during a press tour of the Tokyo Detention House in Tokyo, Monday, June 10, 2019. Foreign media got a rare tour of the austere, drab but orderly facility Monday, although only of the floors without inmates, and photography was restricted.(AP PhotoKoji Sasahara)

"The three big accidents in Japanese prisons are fires, escapes and suicides," Takenaka said.

He did not know how many suicide attempts had occurred at his facility, but noted proudly that a guard was recently given a special award for preventing an attempt.

The social ostracism that follows in conformist Japan for those suspected of a crime, and their families, means few people speak out.

Those who do say they felt utterly hopeless at the Tokyo Detention House.

Yuji Hosono, a former representative partner at auditing company KPMG Japan, who was detained for 190 days on allegations he window-dressed the financial records of a company he audited, said he felt it would never end.

But he continued to assert his innocence, clinging to the idea that it was "being human," he said in a recent interview. Hosono was eventually convicted after taking his six-year legal battle to the Supreme Court.

He said some workers at the Tokyo Detention House were nice and whispered to him as he headed to the prosecutors' interrogation, "Hang in there."

Foreigners make up 14% of those at the detention house, about a third of them from China, followed by Vietnam and South Korea. Americans make up 4% of the foreign inmates.

By type of offense, the most common is theft, at about a fifth of the allegations, followed by stimulant drug use, fraud and robbery.

Takenaka stressed that, unlike U.S. prisons, where violence might be common, his inmates were safe.

"They don't have to defend themselves as in the West. They are protected," he told reporters. "I believe conditions are more than adequate."

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LAS VEGAS (AP) — The U.S. Patent and Trademark Office has for now denied the A's request to trademark the names “Las Vegas Athletics” and “Vegas Athletics.”

The club, which intends to move to Nevada in 2028, has three months from when the refusals were issued Dec. 29 to ask for an extension to file a new application within a six-month period.

The A's were told the nickname “Athletics” was too generic and could be confused with other activities even if associated with Las Vegas.

That, however, has been the club's nickname since the Philadelphia Athletics began playing in 1901. The A's kept the nickname when they moved to Kansas City in 1955 and Oakland in 1968.

The Patent and Trademark Office denied the NHL's Utah team to use the nickname “Yetis” on Jan. 9 because of potential confusion with companies such as Yeti Coolers. Utah, which moved from the Phoenix area in 2024, now uses the nickname “Mammoth.”

The A's relocated to West Sacramento, California, last year to play the first of three planned seasons in the city's Triple-A ballpark. The team is going solely by “Athletics” while playing in the Northern California city.

A $2 billion, 33,000-capacity stadium on the Las Vegas Strip is under construction. Club officials told the Las Vegas Stadium Authority on Dec. 4 that the ballpark is on schedule to open in time for the 2028 season.

Nevada and Clark County have approved up to $380 million in public funds for the ballpark, and the A’s have said they will cover the remaining expenses. Owner John Fisher has been seeking investors to assist in the funding.

In preparing for the move to Las Vegas, the A's have signed some notable contracts. The most recent was an $86 million, seven-year deal for left fielder Tyler Soderstrom, the richest in team history. Soderstrom signed his contract Dec. 30 at the A's Experience Center in Las Vegas.

The A's acquired second baseman Jeff McNeil from the New York Mets on Dec. 22.

Going back to last offseason, the A's also reached agreements on a $60 million, five-year contract with designated hitter/outfielder Brent Rooker and a $65.5 million, seven-year deal with outfielder Lawrence Butler. Manager Mark Kotsay signed an extension that takes him through 2028 with a club option for 2029.

AP MLB: https://apnews.com/mlb

FILE - Athletics' Tyler Soderstrom sprints towards first after hitting an RBI double during the fifth inning of a baseball game against the Houston Astros, Sept. 23, 2025, in West Sacramento, Calif. (AP Photo/Scott Marshall, File)